The theme for the next CBC Canada Reads is “the novel that could change the nation.” In case you want to start reading the contenders in advance of the debates (on CBC radio in March), most of them are currently available at the UC Library.

The exception is The Orenda: five U of T libraries, include UC, own a copy of this recent novel by Josepha Boyden, and all five copies are checked out. Given this (and given how popular Joseph Boyden’s previous novels have been!), I have just ordered two additional copies for the UC Library.

Kamal Al-Solaylee has won the 2013 Toronto Book Award for his book Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes, which is available at the UC Library. The Toronto Book Awards webpage about his win includes a nice excerpt about his first impressions of Toronto.

The Giller Prize shortlist was announced today. We have all 5 shortlisted books at the UC Library, PLUS the other 8 books that made the “long list.” The longlisted books have been on display at the front of the Library for the past ten days (but of course some of them have been borrowed — that’s why we do these displays!). The winner will be announced November 5.